First Ab Initio Flight Schools To Use Aircraft Equipped With Custom Flight Data Management System And Traffic Awareness Technology

Nearly three dozen Piper single-engine and twin-engine training airplanes will be added to the fleet at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. The agreement includes firm orders for 22 single-engine Archer TX training airplanes and 13 twin-engine trainers, as well as parts and service. Deliveries of the 35 total airplanes will start this spring with 27 of the new aircraft going to CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in Phoenix, United States, and eight being sent later in the year to CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in Oxford, UK.

This initial order is part of a five-year fleet replenishment initiative agreement between the two companies. Under the agreement, CAE has designated Piper as its Preferred Aircraft Provider. CAE's long term needs include the possibility of additional orders to continue its efforts to modernize its CAE Oxford Aviation Academy fleet.
 
"These Piper aircraft are equipped with multiple systems designed to enhance training and safety of flight, including flight data feedback systems and traffic awareness technology," said Jeff Roberts, CAE Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services. "This addition of modern glass-cockpit aircraft is part of our goal to continue to make CAE Oxford Aviation Academy the highest-quality, safest network of cadet flight schools in the world. Once cadets complete their flight training at our academy, part of the world's largest commercial pilot training network with long-term and joint venture relationships with airlines on every continent, they will be ready to fully realize their dream of becoming airline pilots."
 
"Piper is absolutely delighted that CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, a recognized world leader in civil aviation pilot training, has selected our company for its next large fleet procurement of learning aircraft," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. "The dual country destination for this fleet order is a first for Piper's recent fleet sales and CAE's order is confirmation that Piper single and twin-engine aircraft provide the best value and most appropriate training platforms in the industry for today and tomorrow."

All of the aircraft will be equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics suites and Garmin Traffic Advisory Systems. The aircraft will have satellite enhanced dual antenna traffic awareness technology, enabling one-second updates for traffic situational awareness.
 
The aircraft will also become the first ab initio aircraft in the world to be factory-equipped with CAE-designed flight data analysis and cockpit video recording systems. These systems record data, audio and video and are important new additions to CAE's Safety Management System (SMS). The recorded information will be replayed through the CAE Flightscape Insight flight data analysis software. It will enable students to debrief immediately after a flight using flight animation with synchronized audio/video and will allow CAE to gather statistical trends for longer term safety and performance benefits. This initiative provides for more consistent high-level training with objective flight animations and metrics to enhance the overall learning experience.

FMI: www.piper.com, www.cae.com